April 2, 2012

Hi Everyone:

Welcome to my new blog. I’ve been traveling so much lately and having so many great adventures, I thought it would be fun to communicate more directly with all of you. I hope you’ll respond so we can have an ongoing conversation.

A couple days ago I filmed a Christmas special, oddly enough, for PBS, called Heirloom Meals, hosted by my new BFF Carole Murko, directed by film maker (and stride pianist!) J.P. Lipa. His brother Chris is the producer, and a happier team, I can’t imagine. We talked favorite holiday recipes, family memories and I sang Winter Wonderland with the great Mark Shane accompanying me.

We filmed at Carole’s magnificent 100 year old home in the Berkshires and had a wonderful time exploring and getting lost among the many rooms (11 bedrooms!). At one point I reached for a banana, being the ever-hungry girl I am, and was stopped by a production assistant who pointed out my intended foodstuff was about to be filmed.

I’m afraid this is not the first time I’ve eaten what I shouldn’t. On a skin diving expedition I chowed down on the lovely spread of fruit onboard until someone stopped me and said it was for the sharks with whom we were about to swim. How was I supposed to know? Bora Bora, exotic fruit–who knew sharks liked pineapple?

I found out later, Mark Shane DID eat some of the on set Christmas cookies, but insisted he made sure he arranged things so no one would notice. He’s obviously much smoother at this sort of thing than I.